Examining the Role of Women in the Odyssey
Materials: The Odyssey, an adaptation by Bernard Evslin
Procedure: Having finished the novel and having written five paragraph essays in the
class, students are familiar with both the novel and proper essay form
Objectives: To have students analyze a novel in a critical manner. To have students
discuss think about the role of women in ancient society and the archetypes that were in
place. To have students write an essay that displays their sense of how one character is
impacted by another.
How it Fits into the Overall Plan: Essays are the major written form we will be working
with at the end of the year. Students need to understand how to argue a position using
proper paragraph form and proper essay form. The study of mythology is one of my
literature strands.
Assignment: In a five-paragraph essay, pick three women and explain their influence
on the journey of Odysseus.
Your essay will have an introduction, three body paragraphs and a conclusion.
(When the assignment is passed out, I will review each of these as they relate to essay
writing as a whole)
Women to pick from:
Athena
- goddess of wisdom, his protector
Calypso
- loved Ulysses (Odysseus) and had to let him go
Circe
- the enchantress
Anticleia
– his mother
Penelope
– his wife
Nausicaa
- the kind princess
Scylla & Charybdis – once women, now monsters!
Rubric
A
Five paragraph form is strictly followed
Body Paragraphs are well-developed (5-7 sentences)
Supporting details are well chosen and thoroughly explained
Writing is cle
B
Five paragraph form is strictly followed
Body Paragraphs are fairly well-developed (5-7 sentences)
Supporting details are appropriate and explained
C
Five paragraph form is strictly followed
Thesis is fully proven
Body Paragraphs are well-developed (5-7 sentences)
Lacks supporting details; supporting details are not thoroughly explained